Travel Planning

I like finding unique and unusual things to do when I travel to a new place, the more off the beaten path, the better. On a recent trip to London with my boyfriend Cliff and cousin Emily, we skipped the usual sights and explored the city’s less-known side. From Diagon Alley to underground bars, these hidden gems helped us dodge the tourist crowds. Check out my map of all our favorite spots.

Mayflower Pub

The Mayflower Pub looks out over the spot where the Mayflower once docked before leaving for the New World. I grew up near Plymouth, MA and drove by the Mayflower 2 and Plymouth Rock regularly, so we had to visit. Other than the name, the only clue about the bar’s history is a small sign. The pub has a small outside deck and, since it’s not near the big tourist spots, it’s a great place to get away from the crowds.

Trafalgar Square Imperial Measurements 

Trafalgar Square is one of the busiest tourist spots, but most people walk right over the plaques showing different imperial measurements. Throughout the square, you can find scale models of inches, feet, and yards, as well as the less familiar chains, perches, and poles.

Graffiti Tunnel

The Graffiti Tunnel is under Waterloo Station. We expected a run-down alley with ordinary graffiti, but instead found amazing street art. If you go later in the day, you’ll also find several bars and restaurants inside the tunnel.

BrewDog Waterloo

We discovered this brewery after leaving the Graffiti Tunnel. The two-story space includes a restaurant, coffee shop, coworking space, and bowling. Not only that, but there was even a 2-story slide to keep me entertained while my parents—oops, I mean Cliff and Emily—enjoyed their food.

Hungerford Footbridge Skateboard Graveyard

Said to honor a skateboarder who was murdered near the bridge, the graveyard is basically a collection of skateboards that people toss onto a bridge pillar. It gets cleaned up frequently, and although Google Maps said it was closed, a few boards remained during our visit. It’s hit or miss, but since it’s close to the Graffiti Tunnel, it’s worth checking its current state.

London’s Famous Black Cabs

Cliff is a simple man. His two requests when we planned our trip to London were to drink beer in a pub and to ride in one of London’s famous Black Cabs. 

A London Taxi driver isn’t just any driver. To become one, you have to pass The Knowledge of London, one of the hardest tests in the world. Drivers must navigate 25,000 city streets without a map or GPS and name every big building and landmark. If you don’t want to hail a cab on the street, you can arrange a ride in a Black Cab using the Taxiapp UK app.

Cahoots Underground – 1940s Cocktail Bar

We love speakeasies, so it was no surprise that we ended up at Cahoots Underground twice. There are two Cahoots in the same place: Underground and Ticket Hall. Underground has the classic speakeasy vibe.  Though you usually need a reservation, we were able to walk in on a weekday and get a table.

Victorian Penny Chute – House Charity Alms

On the black railing is a small collection box with a slot and the words, ‘House of Charity, ALMS.’ This sign is fixed to a metal pipe. When people drop coins in, they roll down a tube and end up in a box in the building’s basement. This setup is called a penny chute, and it collects donations for the House of Saint Barnabas charity, which used to be in this building.

Broad Street Cholera Pump

The pump stands on a busy street, and most people probably just see it as an annoying pipe in the way. However, it was actually the source of a cholera outbreak in 1854.

Dr. John Snow was able to trace the source of the outbreak back to the water supplied from the Broad Street pump and discovered it was feet from an open cesspool, supporting the theory of water-borne diseases. 

Metropolitan Police Coat Hook

Originally, it was a permanent hook for the police to hang their hats. Sadly, the hook is still there, but the sign is gone. While it was a bit of a letdown, it’s still a cool story and worth the hunt.

Goodwin’s Court

We walked by this small alley twice before finding it. Goodwin’s Court was on my list because it was said to look like a classic old London street. When we got there, we saw several Harry Potter tours going on and learned that Goodwin’s Court was an inspiration for Diagon Alley. We even found Harry Potter’s door with Hedwig in the window.

Mary Poppins and Agatha Christie

You can find statues of the famous magical nanny and your mom’s favorite mystery author near Leicester Square.

The World Time Today

This world map, built in 1928, has a line across the equator that shows the time across the world. It’s also fun to see what the world map looked like in the 1920s.

Even though it’s in the Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, you don’t need a train ticket to see the clock. 

Square the Block

On a corner of the London School of Economics building sits a unique sculpture, making it look like the facade is unraveling.

London Underground Labyrinths

In each of the city’s 270 underground stations, there is a photo of a labyrinth. The hidden-in-plain-sight art is unique to each station. Can you find them all?

I hope this inspires you to get off the beaten path and explore the unique and unusual side of London. Also check out Unique Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam and How to Spend 24 hours in Singapore Airport.